Pump arrangement

ABSTRACT

The subject matter of the present invention is a pump arrangement ( 1, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 ), in particular for use in the body&#39;s own vessels, having a pump ( 11, 41, 51 ) and a sheath ( 12, 42, 52 ) receiving the pump, bounding a flow passage (S) and having a distal intake opening ( 13, 43, 53 ) and a proximal outflow opening ( 14, 29, 39, 44, 54 ) for producing a driving flow by means of the pump, wherein the pump is arranged in a first fluid-tight section ( 12   a,    42   a,    52   a ) having the distal intake opening and a second fluid-tight section ( 12   b,    42   b,    52   b ) includes the proximal outflow opening. In accordance with the invention, a further inlet opening ( 15 ) is present between the first section and the second section and is arranged between the intake opening and the outflow opening, with the first section and the second section being arranged with respect to one another such that the inlet opening opens into the flow proximal to the pump.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/142,835 (allowed), filed Apr. 29, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/261,515 (now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,328,741), which entered the national stage on Nov. 13, 2012, and which is a United States National Stage filing under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2011/002522, filed May 16, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/345,253, filed May 17, 2010, and European Patent Application No. 10075202.1, filed May 17, 2010, the contents of all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. International Application No. PCT/EP2011/002522 was published under PCT Article 21(2) in English.

The invention is in the field of mechanical engineering and fine mechanics and can in particular advantageously be used in the medical area.

In this respect, the subject matter is a pump arrangement in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.

Pump arrangements are increasingly known from prior art in particular for use in the body's own vessels. Said pumps can be used, for example, for short-term cardiac support to relieve the cardiac muscle of a patient after a cardiogenic shock (myocardial infection). In this process, use is sometimes made of transfemorally implanted micro-axial pumps.

Such a pump arrangement is known, for example, from EP 2 047 872 A1. The pump arrangement disclosed there includes a pump, a sheath receiving the pump and having a distal intake opening and a proximal outflow opening, with the pump generating a driving flow in operation from the distal intake opening toward the proximal outflow opening. A flow passage thus extends between the intake opening and the outflow opening. The pump is in this respect arranged in a first fluid-tight section of the sheath which has the distal intake opening and which is formed as a PU covering of a housing. Furthermore, a second fluid-tight section of the sheath is present which includes the proximal outflow opening and is formed as an outflow hose. The outflow hose is connected with material continuity to the PU covering. The pump arrangement is arranged such that the pump formed as a rotor can, for example, be arranged in a ventricle, with the outflow hose extending from the ventricle into the aorta.

All the blood entering into the aorta via outflow openings of the outflow hose moves through the intake opening into the flow passage formed by the sheath and in so doing passes through the rotor. In other words: The conveyed flow conveyed by the pump is identical to the total flow exiting at the outflow opening.

The subject matters of documents DE 41 24 299 A1, DE 10 2004 054 714 A1 WO 2007/112033 A2 and US 2008/132748 A1 also work in accordance with the aforesaid principle.

Since all blood comes into direct contact with the pump, a particularly high effort is required in the manufacture of the pump to reduce the blood-damaging effect of the moving pump parts. This blood-damaging effect is manifested in direct mechanical shear at moving and stationary pump parts and in shear by shear stress fields occurring in the fluid white passing through the flow passage (see above). Pump geometries therefore also arise which cannot be used by means of a minimally invasive procedure.

It is the underlying object of the present invention to reduce the danger of damage to the blood or to the fluid transported through the pump. Special attention must be paid to the choice of the materials in the medical use of the following pump arrangement(s). Said materials should meaningfully satisfy the demands of biocompatibility. Interactions with foreign-body surfaces form the third big aspect, in addition to the above implementation, in blood damage and have been sufficiently examined for some time.

In accordance with the invention, a further inlet opening is introduced between the first section and the second section with the first section and the second section being arranged with respect to one another such that the inlet opening opens into the flow passage proximal the compressible pump. In this respect, the further inlet opening can also be formed as an inlet passage which has its inlet opening distal of or proximal to the pump or also at the level of the pump, but which only opens into the flow passage proximal to the pump.

It is possible with the aid of the feature in accordance with the invention that a driving flow running through the pump flows through the flow passage past the opening of the inlet opening in the direction of the outlet opening and thus effects a pressure drop with respect to the fluid pressure present in the inlet opening which results in a pulling of fluid through the inlet opening and into the flow passage. The total flow outflowing at the outflow opening is hereby larger than the driving flow directly passing through the pump and conveyed thereby since an additional intake flow is added through the inlet flow.

The intake flow arises in that a suction effect arises due to the driving flow such as also occurs in some kinds of turbine or water jet pumps. On the suction effect, an impulse is transmitted from the driving flow to the intake flow by friction or viscosity or turbulent mixing of the fluid. In this manner, viscous, turbulent shear stresses arise. The impulse direction of the propellant flow is transmitted to particles from the medium of the intake flow to be conveyed which are transported into a zone downstream within the sheath.

Substantially, the principle of a jet pump is realized with the aid of the feature in accordance with the invention, with the driving flow directly passing through the pump and conveyed thereby carrying along an intake flow entering through the further inlet opening.

The inlet opening in this respect extends between the first section and the second section, with the entry to the inlet opening being able to be proximal to or distal of the pump, with it being advantageous if the entry is distal of the outflow opening. Only the opening of the inlet opening into the flow passage should be proximal the pump so that the suction effect which is caused by the driving flow is utilized well.

A compressible pump is understood as a preferably radially compressible pump or pump arrangement. In this respect, the pump or the first section and/or the second section and/or the housing and/or the rotor are formed such that the pump can be conducted to the target site in a catheter, with the catheter having an inner diameter which is smaller than the first section and second section or the housing in the unfolded condition. Such pumps or pump arrangements are known, for example, in EP 2 047 872 A1, in WO 2010/083494 A1, in U.S. 61/120,095 or in WO 2010/127871 and in U.S. 61/175,519 A1.

An inlet opening formed between the intake opening and the outflow opening is particularly advantageous.

The first section and the second section of the sheath can be formed in one piece or as components separate from one another.

In a first embodiment, the cross-section of the proximal end of the first section is smaller than the cross-section of the distal end of the second section. The conveyed flow is hereby concentrated onto an area of the cross-section of the proximal end of the first section and can take along further medium on entry into the second section, said medium being able to flow in at least through accesses in the region of the remaining area of the cross-section of the distal end of the second section.

In a further embodiment, the cross-section of the first section converges toward its proximal end. Due to this convergence, the first section is of nozzle form at its proximal end. This results in an improvement in the efficiency and thus in an increase in the sucked-in intake flow. In addition, the feature helps effect a reduction in the total pump arrangement.

In a further embodiment, the distal end of the second section and the proximal end of the first section overlap, i.e. the distal end of the second section is further distal than the proximal end of the first section. In this respect, it is advantageous if the inlet opening between the first section and the second section is in each case formed as an intake passage or in the manner of a passage from the distal end of the second section toward the proximal end of the first section. The intake flow hereby preferably flows almost coaxially to the conveyed direction of the driving flow through the intake passage into the flow passage in the direction of the outflow opening. In this respect, an impulse of the driving flow in the direction of the outflow opening is already transmitted to the intake flow due to the main axis of the intake passage which is preferably directed in the direction of the conveyed flow. This results in an improvement in efficiency.

In a further embodiment, the distal end of the second section is further proximal than or at the same level as the proximal end of the first section. Due to the spacing, the concentrated driving flow exiting the proximal end of the first section is incident onto a fluid of different pressure and different directions so that the concentrated conveyed flow, like a fluid of higher density, flows on into the start of the second section defined by the distal end of the second section and takes along fluid which is located between the first section and the second section. The total flow hereby becomes larger with respect to the driving flow passing through the pump. In this respect, care must, however, be taken that the spacing between the distal end of the second section and the proximal end of the first section is kept small in order not to effect any dispersion of the conveyed flow with respect to the flow present outside the sheath. The spacing should be approximately from 0 to ¼ of the diameter of the proximal outlet opening of the first section.

In a further embodiment, the second section includes at least one partial region made from a flexible material. It is hereby possible that a second section which is disposed between, for example, a ventricle and a blood vessel, with the ventricle and the blood vessel being connected by means of a valve closing and opening rhythmically, can be pressed through the valve and the fluid is thus conveyed in turn with the rhythmic movement of the valve. PU, PE, PP, silicone or Parylene are, for example suited as suitable materials provided that they satisfy the mechanical and geometrical demands and the demands on biocompatibility.

In a further embodiment, the pump arrangement has a housing receiving the pump. This is in particular suitable when the pump is a compressible pump which is conveyed to its working site by means of a catheter together with the housing. In addition, the housing gives the pump arrangement additional stability. The housing can, for example, be manufactured from Nitinol.

On the presence of a housing, the first section can be made as a jacket of the housing or as a coating of the housing, with only a partial region of the housing, preferably an axial partial region, having to have a fluid-tight jacketing or coating. Materials are suitable as coatings or jacketings here such as were already named in the description of the second section made from a flexible material.

In a further embodiment, the housing has a constriction and/or a bulge proximal to the pump. In this respect, a constriction is to be understood as a convergence of the cross-section of the housing with respect to the region of housing receiving the pump. A bulge has a cross-section of the housing enlarged with respect to a constriction or with respect to the region receiving the pump. Converging portions of the first section or lager cross-sections of the second section can be implemented in a particularly easy and advantageous manner with the aid of such a shape. The second section can also be connected to the housing.

In a further embodiment, the first section and the second section are connected to one another with material continuity or are preferably formed in one piece.

In a further embodiment, the second section is formed as an outflow hose.

In a further embodiment, the first section, the second section or any housing includes support elements such as a support ring, plastic threads, wires, connecting struts or a preferably compressible sleeve for spacing apart the first section and the second section so that an intake flow flowing through the inlet opening does not have the result that a surface of the second section is sucked onto the surface of the first section and thus interrupts the intake flow or to ensure that the further inlet opening is permanently open in pump operation. The support elements are in this respect connected to the first section or to the second section such that they are compressible together with the pump. This can be achieved, for example, via flexible support elements or support elements made from hyper elastic materials or support elements made from memory materials such as Nitinol.

The second section can furthermore have a support ring in the region of the inlet opening, said support ring ensuring a spacing of the first section from the second section in the region of the inlet opening so that an intake flow flowing through the inlet opening does not have the result that a surface of the second section is sucked onto the surface of the first section and thus interrupts the intake flow. This is in particular advantageous when the second section is a section made from flexible material such as an outflow hose.

In a further embodiment, the second section has a sleeve which includes the further inlet apparatus or partly includes the further inlet opening. Said sleeve can be connected as an additional special part, for example, to a flexible region of the second section. In this respect, it is advantageous if the sleeve is of stable shape and thus forms a suitable resistance with respect to the fluid in the working state which is defined, for example, by an unfolding of the pump arrangement at its work site in the body so that the intake flow is channeled by the sleeve and flows into the flow passage.

Instead of a sleeve, a further hose section or a tube can also be used.

In a further embodiment, the pump is a compressible pump, which results in a lighter introduction of the pump into the bloodstream or into a vessel.

It is furthermore advantageous if the pump is an axial flow pump which is fastened on a rotatable shaft which drives the pump.

The invention will be described in the following in more detail with reference to some embodiments. There are shown:

FIG. 1 the use of a pump arrangement in a heart;

FIG. 2 a schematic representation of an embodiment of the pump arrangement;

FIG. 3 a schematic representation of an inlet opening of an embodiment of the pump arrangement;

FIG. 4 an embodiment of a pump arrangement;

FIG. 5a a further embodiment of a pump arrangement;

FIG. 5b a schematic representation of the pump arrangement of FIG. 5 a:

FIG. 6 a further embodiment of a pump arrangement;

FIG. 7 a further embodiment of a pump arrangement; and

FIGS. 8a-8c cross-sections through different pump arrangements.

A possible use for the pump arrangement 1 is shown in FIG. 1. The pump arrangement 1 includes an elongate catheter which extends through the blood vessel 2 and in which a shaft extends which drives the pump present in the pump arrangement 1 and formed as a rotor. The proximal end of the pump arrangement (viewed without the catheter) is located in the blood vessel 2, whereas the distal end of the pump arrangement 1 including the pump is located in the ventricle 3. The blood vessel 2 is bounded by the vessel wall 4. The valve 5 which opens and closes rhythmically furthermore bounds the ventricle 3 and enables the blood flow from the ventricle 3 into the blood vessel 2.

Further uses are possible in addition to the shown use of a pump arrangement in accordance with the information. The pump can thus, for example, be used in a different vessel of the body to increase the conveying performance.

The mode of operation of a pump arrangement in accordance with the invention should be explained with reference to FIG. 2. The pump arrangement 10 includes a pump 11 which is formed as a rotor. The pump 11 is set into rotation by means of a shaft which is shown, but not numbered and can thus transport a driving flow Q_(T). The pump arrangement 10 has a sheath 12 which includes a first section 12 a and a second section 12 b. An intake opening 13 is located in the first section 12 a through which intake opening a fluid can enter into the lumen of the first section 12 a, is sucked in by the pump 11 and is transported as a driving flow Q_(T) in the direction of the outflow opening 14. The sheath 11 defines the flow passage S between the intake opening 13 and the outflow opening 14, said flow passage completely including the lumen of the first section 12 a and partially including a lumen of the second section 12 b.

The first section and the second section overlap between the proximal end of the first section 12 a and the distal end of the second section 12 b. An inlet opening 15 is defined by the overlap through which the fluid can enter into the flow passage S from a region outside the lumen of the first section 12 a. A pressure drop occurs in the region 17 in the region of the proximal end of the first section 16 due to the driving flow Q_(T) conveyed by the pump. This is shown in FIG. 3.

Further fluid is sucked through the inlet opening 15 in the direction of the outflow opening 14 due to the pressure drop in the region 17 and enters into the flow passage as the intake flow Q_(s) proximal to the proximal end of the first section 16.

The first section 12 a and the second section 12 b both include a lumen. In this respect, the lumen of the first, section 12 a has a cross-sectional area A₁, the lumen of the second section 12 b has a cross-sectional area A₂. In the present embodiment, the cross-sections A₁ and A₂ remain the same over the total length of the respective section; however, this is not a compulsory feature. The intake flow already receives an impulse direction in the direction of the outflow opening 14 due to the passage extending parallel to the driving flow between the distal end of the second section 12 b and the proximal end of the first section 12 a and formed as an inlet opening 15. The volume per time Q_(A) which has flowed out at the outflow opening 14 is larger due to the additional intake flow Q_(S) than the driving flow Q_(T) passing through the pump.

A further embodiment of a pump arrangement is described in FIG. 4. The pump arrangement 20 is located in a blood vessel which is bounded by the vessel walls 4. The distal end of the pump arrangement 20 is located distal of the valve 5; the proximal end is located proximal to the valve 5.

The pump arrangement 20 includes a compressible rotor 21 which is fastened to the shaft 22 at one side. The bearing is located at the proximal end of the rotor. The rotor 21 is surrounded by a housing 23 which can be manufactured from Nitinol. The housing comprises individual threads, wires or struts of Nitinol which mutually cross and produce a diamond pattern. The fluid can pass through the diamonds and so reach the rotor 21.

The housing 23 is partly covered by a jacketing 24 in a fluid-tight manner. In this respect, the jacketing 24 extends over a length L₂₄ so that a driving flow Q_(T) driven by the rotor is bundled and exits the housing 23 at the proximal end of the jacketing 24 and flows in the direction of the outflow openings 29 which are arranged in an outflow hose 25.

The jacketing 24 in the embodiment of the pump arrangement 20 forms the first section of the sheath; the outflow hose 25 forms the second section of the sheath. The distal end of the outflow hose is fastened to the housing 23 and is further distal than the proximal end of the sheath 24.

The sheath 34 converges from the region of the rotor 21 in the proximal direction. The lumen formed by the sheath 24 thus has a cross-sectional area A_(1D) in the region of the rotor 21 which is larger than the cross-sectional area A_(1P) of the proximal end of the sheath 24. A nozzle effect is hereby produced which accelerates the driving flow Q_(T) in accordance with the principle of the Venturi tube so that it flows in the direction of the outflow openings 29 at a higher flow speed at the proximal end of the sheath 24. The intake passage 26 which is accessible through the inlets 27 is located between the sheath 24 and the outflow hose 25. It can be recognized from FIG. 4 that a plurality of inlets 27 are present, with the inlets being designed as circular sections of the outflow hose in the region of its distal end. Due to the reduced pressure in the region of the exiting driving flow Q_(T) an intake flow Q_(s) is sucked through the inlet 27 and the intake passage 28 and flows into the flow passage S, which transports the total conveyed flow to the outflow openings 29.

A support ring 28 which is stable in shape in the working state of the pump is located radially peripherally proximal to the inlets 27 and the outflow hose 25. A suction of the surface of the outflow hose 25 to the sheath 24 due to the occurring intake flow is thus prevented. The intake passage 26 thus remains open and further fluid is sucked through the intake passage 28, caused by the driving flow Q_(T), into the flow passage S.

A further embodiment of the pump arrangement in accordance with the invention is shown in FIG. 5a . The pump arrangement 30 includes a rotor 31 which is supported at both sides, i.e. distal and proximal, at an axle 32. The rotor 31 is arranged in a housing 33 which is sectionally jacketed by a PU coating 34. The PU coating 34 in this respect extends over a length L₃₄ up to a region disposed proximal to the proximal end of the rotor 31. The housing 33 has a constriction 33 a and expands proximal of the constriction 33 a to form a bulge 33 b. In the region of the bulge 33 b, the outflow hose 35 is connected to the housing 33 with material continuity. The bulge 33 b and the constriction 33 a are spaced apart from one another, measured along the axis 32, by a spacing d which amounts to around 0 to ¼ of the diameter of the constriction 33 a. In this respect, the spacing d is selected so that due to the driving flow Q_(T) exiting the proximal end of the PU coating 34 and driven by the rotor 31, an intake flow Q_(s) is sucked in through the inlet opening 36 resulting between the PU coating 34 and the outflow hose 35. The driving flow Q_(T) exiting the jacketing is flowed out at a pressure P₁. A pressure P₂ applies outside the jacketing 34 which is lower than the pressure P₁. An intake flow Q_(s) is sucked into the inlet opening 36 due to this pressure difference and is transported through the outflow hose toward the outflow opening 39 where it is expelled as a total current Q_(A) at a pressure P₃ which is greater than the pressure P₂. The total flow Q_(A) is in this respect lower than the driving flow Q_(T).

Even if the flow passage S, which extends between the intake opening distal of the rotor 31 and the outflow opening 39, is permeable for fluid between the proximal end of the PU coating 34 and the distal end of the outflow hose 35, the inflow opening 36 nevertheless opens into the flow passage which is defined by the flow course of the driving flow. If the driving flow is correspondingly high, it enters practically directly into the outflow hose.

It is possible due to the inlet opening present in addition to the intake opening disposed distal of the rotor 31 that a partial flow of the total flow Q_(A) exiling at the outflow opening 39 does not pass the rotor 31 and there is thus no risk of blood damage by the rotor 31.

The embodiment of the pump arrangement 30 of FIG. 5a is shown again schematically in FIG. 5b . It can be recognized here that the distal end of the PU coating 34 has a cross-sectional area A_(1D) which is larger with respect to the cross-sectional area A_(1P) which is present at the proximal end of the PU coating 34. The lumen surrounded by the PU coating 34 thus converges, which has the consequence of an efficiency improvement. The cross-sectional area A_(2D) of the lumen of the outflow hose 35 is in turn larger than the cross-sectional area A_(1P). An inlet opening 36 is thus defined at least by the region of the cross-sectional area A_(2D) which remains after the subtraction of the cross-sectional area A_(1P). Said inlet opening in turn opens into the flow passage S.

A further embodiment of a pump arrangement is shown in FIG. 6. In this respect, a detailed description of the axle and of the pump drive is dispensed with. The pump arrangement 40 includes a rotor 41 as well as a first section 42 a and a second section 42 b of a sheath. The intake opening 43 which supplies fluid to the pump 41 is located at the distal end of the first section 42 a. The fluid supplied to the pump 41 is accelerated and is expelled as a driving flow Q_(T) at the proximal end of the first section 42 a. The second section 42 b is composed of a flexible region 420 b which is connected to a compressible sleeve 421 b which is of stable shape and is rigid in the working state of the rotor. The compressible sleeve 421 b is connected to the first section 42 a by means of plastic threads or wires 422 b. The cross-section extending in converging manner from the distal end of the sleeve 421 b to the proximal end of the sleeve 421 b has the effect in conjunction with the driving flow Q_(T) of sucking in an intake flow Q_(s) through the inlet opening 45 which is formed between the sleeve 421 b and the first section 42 a, with the intake flow Q_(s) being combined with the driving flow Q_(T) and, in the flow passage S, flowing out of the outflow opening 44 as the total flow Q_(A). It is in turn obvious from FIG. 8 that the inlet opening 45 opens into the flow passage S.

A further embodiment of a pump arrangement is shown in FIG. 7. The pump arrangement 50 includes a pump 51 which is formed as an axial-flow pump having a rotor. Furthermore, a sheath 52 is present which can be divided into a first section 52 a and into a second section 52 b. In this respect, the first section and the second section are connected to one another with material continuity or are manufactured in one piece. An intake opening 53, which supplies fluid to the rotor, is located at the distal end of the sheath 52 so that a driving flow Q_(T) is conveyed in the working state of the rotor. The driving flow Q_(T) is conveyed in the direction of the outflow opening 54. An inlet opening 55 through which an intake flow Q_(s) effected by the driving flow Q_(T) can enter into the flow passage S defined by the sheath 52 is located between the first section 52 a and the second section 52 b. The special feature of this embodiment is that the sheath 52 is made in one piece, in contrast to the previously shown embodiments in which the first section represents a separate component with respect to the second section.

Some different geometries of entries of the inlet openings should be shown with respect to FIGS. 8a -c.

A cross-section of the embodiment of FIG. 8 is shown in FIG. 8a . What can be seen is the intake opening 543 with a cross-sectional area A_(1P). Disposed proximal thereto, i.e. further into the plane of the drawing, the sleeve 421 b is located with the cross section A_(2D) measured at its widest periphery. The plastic threads 422 b connect the sleeve 421 b to the first section 42 a.

The embodiment of FIG. 5a is shown in FIG. 8b . The intake opening 33 can be recognized which is defined by the PU coating 34. The PU coating 34 simultaneously defines a lumen which has a cross-sectional area A_(1D) in the region of the rotor. In addition, the axle 32 can be recognized at the center of the intake opening 33. Proximal to the rotor (cf. FIG. 5a ), the housing 33 which is formed by threads, wires or struts of Nitinol converges to a cross-sectional area A_(1P) which is defined by the constriction 33 a. At proximal, the housing 33 widens to form a bulge 33 b, with the outflow hose 35 being connected to the housing in the region of the bulge. It can clearly be recognized with reference to the representation shown in FIG. 8b that the region 38 disposed between the outflow whose 35 and the PU coating 34 serves as an inlet opening for an intake flow.

In FIG. 8c the embodiment of FIG. 4 is shown. In this respect, the cross-section is shown at the level of the support ring 28. The lumen defined by the jacketing 24 of the first section and having the cross-sectional area A_(1D) can be recognized. The intake passage 26 through which additional fluid is sucked in, driven by the driving flow running through the lumen of the jacketing 24 in the proximal direction, is located between the jacketing 24 and the outflow hose 25. The outflow hose 25 has a cross-sectional area of A_(2D) in this region. The support ring 28 can clearly be recognized, as can the connection struts 28 a which connect the support ring to the jacketing 24. The support ring is composed of a plurality of segments 28 b which can be brought into a folded state for introduction of the pump arrangement with the aid of a catheter.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

-   1, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 pump arrangement -   2 blood vessel -   3 ventricle -   4 vessel wall -   5 heart valve -   6 vessel valve -   11, 41, 51 pump -   12, 42, 52 sheath -   12 a, 42a, 52a 1st section of the sheath -   12 b, 42b, 52b 2nd section of the sheath -   13, 43, 53 intake opening -   14, 44, 54 outflow opening -   15 inlet opening -   16 proximal end of the 1st section -   17 region of pressure drop -   21, 31 rotor -   22, 32 axle -   23, 33 housing -   24, 34 jacketing -   L24, L34 length of the jacketing -   25, 35, 420 b outflow hose -   26, 36 intake passage -   27 inlets -   28 support ring/spacer -   33 a constriction -   33 b bulge -   421 b sleeve -   422 b spacer -   Q_(T) conveyed flow -   Q_(s) intake flow -   Q_(A) total flow -   A₁, A₂, A_(1D), A_(1P), A_(2D) cross-section 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A blood pump assembly comprising: an elongate catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; a rotor disposed at a distal end of the elongate catheter; a housing at least partially surrounding the rotor, the housing comprising: a first fluid-tight section disposed at a distal end of the housing, the first fluid-tight section comprising a distal end defining a distal opening, a proximal end defining a proximal opening, and a central bore extending from the distal opening to the proximal opening, the central bore being radially fluid tight between the distal opening and the proximal opening; and a second fluid-tight section at least partially formed of a flexible material and disposed at a proximal end of the housing, the second fluid-tight section comprising a first blood inlet disposed at a distal end of the second fluid-tight section, and a blood outlet disposed at a proximal end of the second fluid-tight section, wherein the distal end of the second fluid-tight section defines the first blood inlet, and wherein the second fluid-tight section is radially fluid-tight between the first blood inlet and the blood outlet; wherein at least a portion of the second fluid-tight section is compressible.
 2. The blood pump assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing is radially compressible.
 3. The blood pump assembly of claim 2, wherein the rotor is compressible.
 4. The blood pump assembly of claim 3, wherein the rotor is disposed within the first fluid tight section.
 5. The blood pump assembly of claim 4, wherein the second fluid-tight section is compressible.
 6. The blood pump assembly of claim 5, further comprising a sheath surrounding the catheter, the sheath configured to hold the first fluid-tight section in a compressed state during insertion.
 7. The blood pump assembly of claim 6, wherein the second fluid-tight section and the first fluid-tight section are coaxial.
 8. The blood pump assembly of claim 7, wherein a cross-sectional area of a proximal end of the first fluid-tight section is smaller than a cross-sectional area of a distal end of the second fluid-tight section.
 9. The blood pump assembly of claim 8, wherein the proximal end of the first fluid-tight section is distal to a proximal end of the second fluid-tight section.
 10. The blood pump assembly of claim 9, further comprising support elements coupled to the first fluid-tight section and second fluid-tight section.
 11. The blood pump assembly of claim 10, wherein the support elements are compressible with the first fluid-tight section and second fluid-tight section.
 12. The blood pump assembly of claim 11, wherein the support elements comprise struts.
 13. The blood pump assembly of claim 12, wherein the struts are arranged in a diamond pattern.
 14. The blood pump assembly of claim 13, wherein the struts are formed from nitinol.
 15. The blood pump assembly of claim 14, wherein the second fluid-tight section comprises a flared distal end.
 16. The blood pump assembly of claim 15, wherein the flared distal end of the second fluid-tight section at least partially encloses the first fluid-tight section.
 17. The blood pump assembly of claim 16, wherein the elongate catheter is sized for percutaneous insertion into a blood vessel of a patient.
 18. The blood pump assembly of claim 17, wherein the compressible portion of the second fluid-tight section is configured to be positioned at the aortic valve.
 19. The blood pump assembly of claim 18, wherein the flexible material is an elastic material.
 20. The blood pump assembly of claim 19, wherein the flexible material is formed of polypropylene.
 21. The blood pump assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first fluid-tight section is compressible.
 22. The blood pump assembly of claim 21, wherein the second fluid-tight section is compressible. 